`` 7-Eleven killed the minibar . ''

The sentiments of one hotel manager in Hong Kong could well extend to hotels around the world .

The hotel minibar , loved and cursed at by millions of desperate midnight snackers/drinkers , is on the decline .

Hilton Hong Kong installed the world 's first hotel minibar in 1974 by stocking liquors and fridges in each of its 840 rooms .

The move reportedly led to a 500 % increase in room-service drink sales and a 5 % boost to the company 's net income that year .

Soon , the minibar became a near-universal industry standard .

But Hilton recently started backtracking in some of its properties , removing the booze and leaving the fridges in its rooms , for guests to fill themselves .

Other hotel giants , including the Grand Hyatt , Starwood and Marriott brands , are also phasing out this once ubiquitous in-room feature from some of their properties .

It 's because we just do n't seem to enjoy them as much as we once did .

TripAdvisor recently released a survey that found the minibar ranked least popular among all hotel amenities -- just 21 % of respondents found the room fridge an important feature compared with 89 % that wanted a free wireless connection .

PKF Hospitality Research found that in the United States , revenue from minibars , which represents just 1 % of total hotel revenue , fell 28 % from 2007 to 2012 .

Robert Mandelbaum , the firm 's director of research information services , says properties in the United States have adapted their food and beverage offerings , installing food outlets that resemble `` grab and go '' mini-markets .

The trend for `` convenience eating '' is also contributing to a decline in the traditional hotel restaurant that serves three meals a day , he says .

They 're being replaced with casual food outlets offering items such as pre-packaged salads .

It 's all part of what Mandelbaum calls the `` Starbucks phenomenon , '' a property design and management philosophy that enables and encourages interaction between strangers .

Combine this with the emergence of sociable `` millennials '' who prefer to mingle in the hotel lobby than order room service , and you have an industry and consumer move away from imbibing in the room .

Is this such a bad thing ?

For those who think inflated prices on items like tiny bags of macadamia nuts and mediocre chocolate bars are offensive , especially when nearby convenience stores offer the same stuff for a fraction of the price , the stocked in-room bar has always been an irritant .

Simon Dell , vice president of operations of Thailand-based ONYX Hospitality Group , agrees .

`` We do n't want to sell mini-macadamia nuts for $ 8.50 . It 's not what people want , '' he says .

What 's more , by eliminating minibars from rooms , hotels can actually save costs , says Dell .

`` When -LRB- we -RRB- remove any content from the minibar it takes a considerable number of tasks out of every -LRB- housekeeper 's -RRB- day , so there 's time saved , headcount saved , therefore money saved , which is reflected in the overall price -LRB- of rooms -RRB- , '' he says .

Better for a property to focus on amenities guests prioritize , such as Internet access .

`` Connectivity is as ubiquitous as the telephone 20 years ago , when it had to be in the room , or like your own shower or bathroom has to be in the room . ''

$ 10 Coke ` not right '

Others think the minibar simply needs to evolve to changing needs of guests .

`` We ca n't just give hot and cold running water , '' says Dean Winter , area director of operations of Hong Kong Hotels & China Projects at Swire Hotels .

Take the example of Swire 's Hong Kong property , Upper House -- each room features a complimentary selection -LRB- beer , soda , healthy juices , coconut water and snacks -RRB- and a separate , chargeable wine fridge .

`` We wanted to differentiate ourselves to appeal to discerning business and leisure travelers without following the traditional routes of five-star hospitality , '' explains Winter .

He thinks `` charging $ 5-10 for Coke is not the right thing to do , '' as people remain price conscious .

`` People appreciate a complimentary minibar or Wi-Fi or movies , and paying a rate and not all these add-ons , '' he says .

Less hard booze

Today there 's far less hard liquor , complimentary or not .

Ten years ago , JW Marriott yanked the petite bottles of liquor out of its chargeable minibars in its Hong Kong hotel , citing low consumption .

At The Mira Hong Kong , miniature spirits were phased out in 2011 .

According to the property , `` the hard liquor was removed as we prefer to tempt our guests with drinks and entertainment at our open air lounge bar Vibes , and cocktail bar Room One with a live band . ''

Only corporate or high-paying guests get the fully complimentary minibar .

Cheap trumps convenient

The minibar is also increasingly part of an all-inclusive package .

At Hong Kong 's Ovolo Hotel , the complimentary scheme is extensive : guests get a free minibar , breakfasts , plus two-hours free booze daily at its O Lounge , including all spirits and wine .

Removing the prices has also helped remove the headache of arguing with guests over what exactly they did or did not consume , says the hotel manager in Ovolo 's Aberdeen branch , Chum Roa .

`` It was a source of many disputes in hotels , '' he says . `` If the customer persists they had nothing , often hotels absorb the cost to not ruin guest relations over minibar items . ''

Now , he does n't have to deal with that .

Roa imagines a future in which the traditional minibar is extinct .

`` The competitor of the minibar is n't nearby hotels but the 24-hour stores where one can get everything you need a few blocks away , '' he says .

The convenience of having a cold drink in your room is n't quite enough if you have to pay three times as much for it , it seems .

Will you miss minibars in hotel rooms or say good riddance to shockingly priced beer and M&M 's ? Leave a comment .

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Many hotel giants are phasing out minibars in rooms

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Revenue from minibars in the United States fell 27 % in five years

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Nearby convenience stores are now preferred by guests